A storm in an egg-cup was been whipped up by the National Trust dropping the word Easter in promoting its seasonal egg hunts.

The children’s trails are being publicised more prosaically this year as Cadbury’s Egg Hunts, such as those taking place at Stoneywell, the Trust’s Arts and Crafts cottage and gardens near Markfield, over the Easter bank holiday on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Prime Minister Theresa May and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu were been among those slating the Trust for what has been seen as a move to airbrush religious reference from the spring festival.

Father Frank Daly, priest in charge at St Peter’s RC Church in Hinckley said that, rather than feeling offended or aggrieved, his own reaction had been one of “sadness”.

Stoneywell, the Arts and Crafts cottage near Markfield

He said: “Many of the Trust’s properties include a chapel in the buildings as places of worship for previous owners, and the founder of Cadbury’s was himself a devout Christian.

“Religious festivals punctuate our year – Christmas, Easter, Eid, Hannakah, Diwali – and are much appreciated by those who celebrate them.

“There is also a great deal of cross-over between faiths, where they are happy to share in the celebration of each other’s festivals.

“If the thinking behind these actions is to promote equality then that thinking is sadly deficient.

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“Equality means treating each other with the same respect and dignity, and that includes what a person stands for, even if you do not particularly agree with them (except of course when that ‘faith’ may be claimed to justify heinous and violent crimes as we have seen all too often lately).

“Equality does not mean making everyone the same.”

He added: “While we may no longer be effectively a Christian country, we cannot deny our heritage or re-write it for the sake of equality or political correctness.”

Rev John Whittaker

The Rev John Whittaker, vicar of St Mary’s in Hinckley, also reflected on the Easter omission.

He said: “After a week in which a bomb exploded in the St Petersburg underground and there were gas attacks in Syria, we are painfully aware of our need for a world where God’s new life of healing love breaks through to hearts and minds so corrupted by evil as to be able to inflict such terrible carnage on fellow humans.

“While the miracle of new life bursting out of eggs makes them a powerful symbol of the Easter hope brought into the world in the life of Jesus rising from the tomb, I would prefer to spend time praying for new life in our broken world rather than joining in with the latest episode of Eastergate.”

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A National Trust spokesman told The Hinckley Times’s parent paper The Mirror: “We host a huge programme of events, activities and walks to bring families together to celebrate this very special time of year and a casual glance at our website will see dozens of references to Easter throughout.”

A spokesman for Cadbury told The Mirror: “Each year our Easter campaigns have a different name and this year our seasonal campaign is called the Cadbury’s Great British Egg Hunt.

“It is clear to see that within our communications and marketing we clearly state the word Easter and include it in a number of promotional materials, including our website.”

Stoneywell Easter egg hunts run from 10am until 4pm on the days mentioned and cost £2 per person in addition to normal admission charges.

To find out more search for Stoneywell on the National Trust website or ring 01530 248048.